After the first meconium stools, many shades of yellow, brown and green can be normal. White or very pale gray stool, red that may be blood, and black stool after the meconium period should be assessed by a clinician. Color alone is not a diagnosis; age, feeding, consistency and other symptoms matter.

01

The first dark stool is meconium

A newborn's first stool is thick, sticky and dark green-black. It should change over the first days. If meconium has not passed as your maternity team expected, or the change worries you, contact the newborn care team without waiting for a routine check.

Meconium: dark green-black
02

Yellow, brown and green are often expected

Breastfed stools are often mustard-yellow, soft and seedy. Formula-fed stools may be yellow-brown or green and firmer. Solid foods can change color and texture. Look at how your baby is overall and whether the change persists.

Mustard yellow
Yellow-brown
Green
03

Do not ignore white, red or black

White, chalky or very pale gray stool can signal a liver or bile-flow problem; seek medical advice promptly. Possible blood-red stool and black stool after the meconium days also need assessment, even if a food might have changed the color.

White/pale gray: prompt medical advice
Red: clinical assessment
Black after meconium: clinical assessment
04

Record more than color

Note watery or very hard stool, blood or heavy mucus, frequency, fever, vomiting, feeds and wet diapers. Call 911 in the US or 999 in the UK for breathing trouble, difficulty waking, a seizure or signs of severe illness.

05

Newborn guides

Review stool, urine, feeding, jaundice and urgent signs in the guide for your country.

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